Diddy Sentenced To Four Years In Prison Over Prostitution Charges

Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been sentenced to more than four years in prison after being found guilty of transporting people across state lines for prostitution, concluding one of the most high-profile trials in recent U.S. entertainment history.

The 55-year-old music executive received a 50-month prison sentence and a $500,000 fine from District Judge Arun Subramanian in a Manhattan federal court on Friday. Prosecutors had sought an 11-year term, arguing that the offences were part of a broader pattern of coercion and exploitation, while Combs’s defence team requested a much lighter sentence of 14 months, effectively time served.

The sentence follows Combs’s partial acquittal in July when a jury cleared him of the more serious sex trafficking and racketeering charges but convicted him on two counts related to prostitution under the federal Mann Act.

A Tumultuous Courtroom and Emotional Apology

Friday’s sentencing hearing stretched for hours, marked by emotional statements from both the victims and Combs himself. The courtroom was filled with family members, supporters, and victims who recounted harrowing experiences of abuse, coercion, and manipulation during their relationships with the disgraced star.

In a tearful address before sentencing, Combs apologised to his victims and family, describing his actions as “disgusting, shameful, and sick.” He admitted to being “out of control” due to drug use but pleaded for leniency, saying he had sought to change his life.

Judge Subramanian acknowledged the remorse but stressed that the offences had caused “irreparable harm” to two women. “The court is not assured that, if released early, these crimes will not be repeated,” the judge said, emphasising that the punishment reflected both accountability and the law’s constraints.

Despite the gravity of the offences, the judge imposed a sentence shorter than the 70 to 87 months recommended by probation officers. He told Combs, “You are going to get through this. You have a universe of people who love you — let them lift you up now as you have lifted them for years.”

Impact on Victims and a Divided Public Response

Among those who testified was Casandra Ventura, the singer known as Cassie, who had previously filed a civil lawsuit against Combs. In a letter to the court, she urged the judge to consider “the many lives Sean Combs has upended with his abuse and control.” Ventura described years of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, including being coerced into “freak offs”, sexual encounters that Combs arranged and recorded.

Her lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, praised her for her bravery, stating that while no sentence could undo the trauma, the judgment “recognised the impact of the serious offences he committed.”

Prosecutor Christy Slavik argued that Combs had yet to fully accept responsibility, claiming his remorse appeared “qualified” and self-serving. In contrast, defence attorney Nicole Westmoreland portrayed him as a cultural trailblazer and philanthropist, calling the case a tragedy for a man who had inspired millions in the Black community.

Combs’s six adult children were present in court, each pleading for leniency and describing him as a changed man. “Please give our family the chance to heal together, not as headlines but as human beings,” said one of his daughters, D’Lila Combs.

The courtroom’s final moments were filled with emotion as Combs was led away in custody. Outside, reactions were divided, with some fans expressing disbelief, while victims’ advocates hailed the verdict as a milestone in accountability for powerful figures in entertainment.